PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - May 21

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) MPs unanimously voiced their support for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the prime minister and party president and rejected calls for them to quit in protest against his leadership.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has been ordered to re-investigate former chief justice Mohd Eusoff Chin and lawyer V.K. Lingam.

- There is unlikely to be slowdown in earnings for plantation companies, thanks to strong crude palm oil prices, an analyst said.

NEW STRAITS TIMES (www.nst.com.my)

- Modern societies and governments cannot afford to ignore cyberthreats, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) (MASM.KL) net profit in the first quarter ended March 31 slipped 10 percent to 120 million ringgit from 132.7 million in the same quarter a year ago due to fewer passengers and higher jet fuel prices.

- Oilcorp Bhd OILC.KL, an engineering services firm, may cut its 2007 pre-tax profit figure by 68 percent due to differences with its auditors on the accounting treatment of a contract.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com.my)

- Ramunia Holdings Bhd's (RAMU.KL) lucrative 2.2 billion ringgit contract secured from an Indian concern in January has been terminated as it was unable to come up with the required performance bank guarantees and insurance certificates.

- Low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL) still owes Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB.KL) a total of 110.36 million ringgit in disputed service charges accumulated from 2002 to March 31, 2008, said Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Malaysian Merchant Marine Bhd MMMB.KL has signed an agreement to charter with the option to purchase four new chemical tankers from Oceanic Shipping Pte Ltd, its Executive Deputy Chairman, Ramesh Rajaratnam said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Malaysia's business fundamentals and foreign direct investment will remain strong despite the political uncertainties, Khazanah Nasional Bhd Managing Director Azman Mokhtar said.

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